The Verse in Focus (2 Corinthians 6:1)
Συνεργοῦντες δὲ καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν μὴ εἰς κενὸν τὴν χάριν τοῦ Θεοῦ δέξασθαι ὑμᾶς·
The Present Participle: Συνεργοῦντες
The participle συνεργοῦντες comes from the verb συνεργέω, meaning “to work together.” It is a present active participle, nominative masculine plural, modifying the implied subject of the main verb. The present tense of the participle highlights ongoing, continuous action — “as we are working together.” The context reveals that Paul is describing himself and his companions as cooperating with God (see 2 Corinthians 5:20–21). This participle sets the stage: their appeal is not merely human effort — it is divinely partnered labor.
Main Verb of Urgency: παρακαλοῦμεν
παρακαλοῦμεν is the main verb of the sentence, a present active indicative, first person plural of παρακαλέω, which can mean “we urge,” “we appeal,” or “we exhort.” The present tense again implies continuous action — an ongoing appeal to the Corinthians. The use of καὶ links their active collaboration (συνεργοῦντες) with their appeal, forming a rhetorical unity: “working together… we urge.”
Negative Purpose: μὴ εἰς κενὸν
The phrase μὴ εἰς κενὸν (“not in vain”) expresses purpose or result in the negative. κενὸν is the accusative singular neuter of κενός — “empty,” “without effect,” “worthless.” Combined with εἰς, the preposition of direction, it conveys the idea: “toward emptiness” or “to no purpose.” Paul is not accusing the Corinthians, but warning them not to let God’s grace go to waste — a sobering and powerful appeal.
Articular Infinitive: τὴν χάριν… δέξασθαι
Here we find a construction centered around the aorist middle infinitive δέξασθαι (from δέχομαι, “to receive”). The verb is aorist, signaling a completed act — “to have received.” This infinitive, though placed after its object, depends on the previous verb παρακαλοῦμεν: “we urge you not to have received.”
The object of the infinitive is τὴν χάριν τοῦ Θεοῦ — “the grace of God.” This phrase stands emphatically forward in the clause, highlighting the precious and powerful gift Paul fears might be treated lightly.
The Implied Subject: ὑμᾶς
ὑμᾶς, accusative plural pronoun, functions as the subject of the infinitive δέξασθαι. Greek often places pronouns for clarity or emphasis, and here it helps define who Paul is urging — “you” (plural), the Corinthians. The construction makes the appeal personal, pastoral, and pointed.
The Verb That Cares
This single sentence in Greek carries theological urgency and grammatical sophistication. Paul blends a participle of partnership (συνεργοῦντες) with a verb of pastoral appeal (παρακαλοῦμεν), warning against an outcome of tragic waste (εἰς κενὸν) and calling attention to a sacred reception (τὴν χάριν τοῦ Θεοῦ δέξασθαι). Greek allows him to compress his concern into a compact, elegant construction. In just one verse, grammar becomes a vessel of divine concern — urging the reader not just to understand, but to respond.
